Sultani Bakatash, 29, has given evidence in his defence at Bolton Crown Court, denying five counts including two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and sexual assault against two 14-year-old girls. The alleged offences occurred in December 2024 at his flat in Georgina Court, Bolton.
Prosecution's case and defendant's account
Prosecutors previously told the jury that the girls were 'drifting in and out of consciousness' after being 'plied with vodka' by Bakatash, and that he 'seized the opportunity to rape and abuse them'. However, Bakatash, who came to the UK from Afghanistan in 2022 seeking asylum, claims he was himself intoxicated and fell asleep.
On Wednesday (June 24), Bakatash testified through an interpreter. He said he felt 'uncontrollably sleepy' at the time of the alleged incident and briefly went to sleep. He said the two girls were being loud and that he asked them to leave his flat. When his barrister, Umar Shahzad, asked, 'Did anybody do anything to you?', Bakatash replied, 'I can't say.' He added, 'I can't say what they were doing, I was not in my self.'
Background and meeting the girls
Bakatash told the court he had worked for the British military in Afghanistan for seven years before leaving due to the Taliban. He lived in a hotel with his family for 18 months before moving to Bolton about two years ago. He said he was studying English and his understanding was 'okay', but he struggled with conversations.
Three months before the incident, he met one of the girls outside a McDonald's after the gym. She asked him to buy food, but he said he had no cash. She told him she was 18. Two weeks later, he saw her at Asda, and she helped him find sugar. They added each other on Snapchat and messaged occasionally.
Events of the alleged incident
On the day of the alleged incident, Bakatash said he woke at 2pm, and his mother and sisters visited. The girl messaged him on Snapchat, reminding him of his promise to buy her food. He video-called her, then met her and the second alleged victim. He believed they were 18 or 19. He bought three bottles of vodka for the girls but did not drink himself, being Muslim. One girl ordered an Uber to his flat.
During the journey, the girls were 'giggling, taking selfies and talking amongst themselves'. At his flat, they drank Diet Coke and vodka. Bakatash said, 'I think Satan took over me and I had a drink from the bottle. It was a very bad taste. It made a sour feeling in my throat.' He said the girls laughed and made him a drink. They emptied one bottle and most of a second.
Defendant's state and denial
They moved to the living room to listen to music. Bakatash felt sick, dizzy, and 'uncontrollably sleepy'. He said the girls began 'sexy dancing' and 'kissing each other', and he also danced. He described feeling 'very bad' and like he was 'zooming' in and out before falling asleep.
Bakatash, of Georgina Court, Bolton, denies all charges. The trial continues.
